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Two Insects for Solo Euphonium Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen   Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen is a successful Norwegian composer with a background in the brass band movement from Manger outside Bergen. The larger part of his production is for bands, but he is also an acknowledged composer outside the brass band field, writing for piano, chamber orchestra and different solo instruments. Euphonium players might be familiar with his Concerto for Euphonium and Orchestra, as well as his excellent Black Rain for solo euphonium. Aagaard-Nilsen wrote the two enjoyable, yet hard Two Insects which I premiered at a concert with Eikanger-Bjørsvik conducted by Aagaard-Nilsen in Logen Theatre, Bergen. The composer writes about the music: ”Two love stories from the world of insects gave me the idea to compose Two Insects. The piece consists of two movements of quite different character, where the technical potential of the euphonium is extended to the limit. Dance of the Dragonfly: I often go out for a walk in the nice area around Manger, and on one of these occasions I experienced the love-affair between two Dragonflies. I heard a strange sound, and when I looked up I noticed they had formed a wheel that was spinning in the air. But they were not able to fly in that formation for very long, and so the act of love was over when they hit the ground! Moth in Love: The Moth is attracted to light and flames, and tragically, this attraction leads to the moth’s death. I wanted to create music which reflects the despair of the poor moth when it strives for its desire and finally burns to death...” -Tormod Flaten